Lens-fitted photo-film unit and method of producing the same

ABSTRACT

A lens-fitted photo film is pre-loaded with a photo film. Imaging frames are created on the photo film by a shutter releasing. There is aspect ratio information optically prerecorded on the photo film in an outside of the imaging frames, and associate with a respective one of the imaging frames. The aspect ratio information includes two dots, and represents an aspect ratio in two bits. The imaging frames are printed in accordance with the aspect ratio. The lens-fitted photo film unit has a viewfinder with a view field of the aspect ratio represented by the aspect ratio information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lens-fitted photo film unit and amethod of producing the same. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a lens-fitted photo film unit in which aspect ratioinformation is provided for a photo film to be used in producingphotographic prints from the photo film, and a method producing thesame.

2. Description Related to the Prior Art

Photographic prints having various aspect ratios are produced andsupplied commercially, for versatile attraction and enjoyment of takingphotographs on the side of a user of a camera or a lens-fitted photofilm unit. The aspect ratio are set selectable in consideration of kindsof photographic subjects and their sizes. Examples of the photographicprints are a panoramic print (89×252 mm), a wide-vision print (89×158mm) and a C-size print (89×127 mm) which is the most prevalent standardprint. The panoramic print is two times as long horizontally as theC-size print. The wide-vision print has an aspect ratio similar to thatof high-definition television (HDTV).

To obtain the photographic prints having the various aspect ratios,there is a method in which an exposure range on photo film is restrictedin the course of exposure by light-shielding plates or the likeincorporated in the camera or the lens-fitted photo film unit, and thephoto film having the exposure range being varied is subjected toprinting operation to obtain the photographic prints of printing modesin the above-described manner. Examples of the exposure range are apanoramic exposure range (13×36 mm), a wide-vision exposure range (20×36mm) and a C-size exposure range (24×36 mm).

There is a problem of high cost in the manufacture of the camera or thelens-fitted photo film unit, because the light-shielding plates andmechanism for changing over the light-shielding plates must be added tothe camera or the lens-fitted photo film unit. The problem is the moreserious in view of features of the compact camera or the lens-fittedphoto film unit, which should be typically inexpensive and should have asimplified construction.

There is another suggestion for obtaining the photographic prints of theprinting modes without adding any mechanism to the camera or thelens-fitted photo film unit. In taking exposures, all the imaging framesare recorded in the exposure range commonly determined at a fixedformat. In a photo laboratory, only a restricted range inside theexposure range being fixed is printed according to each of the printingmodes. Results of this suggestion is similar to that of the abovetechnique where the exposure range on the photo film is varied.

To produce the photographic prints according to the printing modes fromthe exposure range of the single kind on the photo film, selected onesof the imaging frames for the printing modes as desired must bedesignated by the user and recorded by a photofinishing agent, who mustaccomplish extra manual operation for it. It is further likely that anoperator of the photofinishing agent misreads the printing modes asdesignated, to produce wrong photographic prints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention isto provide a lens-fitted photo film unit incorporating photo film whichcan be easily and correctly handled in printing operation, and a methodof producing the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lens-fittedphoto film unit incorporating photo film which has aspect ratioinformation compatible with a system commonly applied to cameras andother optical instruments, and a method of producing the same.

In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of thisinvention, aspect ratio information is optically prerecorded on thephoto film in an outside of the imaging frames, and associated with arespective one of the imaging frames. The aspect ratio informationincludes at least two indicia, and represents an aspect ratio in atleast two bits. The imaging frames are printed in accordance with theaspect ratio. The viewfinder has a view field of the aspect ratiorepresented by the aspect ratio information.

In a preferred embodiment, the indicia are respectively dots. The aspectratio is 1.4-1.5.

To produce the lens-fitted photo film unit, a producing method includesa step of optically prerecording the aspect ratio information on thephoto film in the outside of the imaging frames and in association witha respective one of the imaging frames.

The optical prerecording step includes conveying the photo film, anddriving a light source while the photo film is conveyed, the lightsource being disposed in a direction toward the outside of the imagingframes, for recording the indicia photographically.

The indicia are respectively rectangular.

The photo film includes a train of perforations formed on a sideopposite to the aspect ratio information and outside the imaging frames,at least one of the perforations being associated with a respective oneof the imaging frames. A respective one of the perforations is detectedin the photo film being conveyed, the light source being driven inresponse to the detection while the photo film is conveyed continuously.

In accordance with the present invention, the photo film in thelens-fitted photo film unit can be easily and correctly handled inprinting operation.

In the prior art, there is still another suggestion to provide a dataimprinting device, which includes: plural data light paths forintroducing ambient light to the photo film; a light path selectorplate, associated with a shift of a view field changer mechanism of theviewfinder, for selectively blocking the data light paths; and a lightpath shutter moved into and out of the data light paths in associationwith movement of the shutter mechanism with a shutter blade.

According to the suggestion, two imprinting devices are arranged forproviding the photo film with one or two rectangular dots of latentimages. Combinations of existence/absence of the dots are two-bit data,which can be is any of three kinds and designates the printing modes.

The most prevalent models of the lens-fitted photo film unit, however,are types of an L-size, which is adapted only to a printing size ofwhich the aspect ratio is 1.43. Of course there are a type of apanoramic size adapted to a printing size of which the aspect ratio is1.85, and a changeable type of the L-size and panoramic size. Howeverthe panoramic and changeable types being available have only smallpercentage commercially in the market.

If the lens-fitted photo film unit, specialized for the L-size andwidely sold in the market, is provided with an additional structure ofthe data imprinting device, the dots are imprinted repetitively in anunchanged manner. The data imprinting device, being capable ofselectively recording one arrangement of the dots, may not beeffectively utilized, and inconsistent to keeping low the cost of thelens-fitted photo film unit. The data imprinting device is obliged tohave a complicated structure, and is likely to have low reliability inoperation.

The present invention is effective in overcoming those problems, as thelens-fitted photo film unit does not require a data imprinting device.The dots are imprinted in a simpler manner than by use of a dataimprinting device. The aspect ratio information of the photo film in thelens-fitted photo film unit is compatible with the system commonlyapplied to cameras and other optical instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially broken, illustrating a photo filmcassette;

FIG. 2 is a plan illustrating the photo film cassette of which photofilm is pulled out;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustrating a laser light source and a photosensor in combination with the photo film;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus including the laserlight source and the sensor, for imprinting aspect ratio information;and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective illustrating a photo film unit of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

In FIG. 1, a photo film cassette 2 is constituted by a cassette shell 3and a photo film 4. A spool 5 is rotatably contained in the cassetteshell 3, and has the photo film 4 wound in a roll form thereon. Also thephoto film cassette 2 has a photo film passageway 6 and a portion with abar code 7. Through the passageway 6 is passed the photo film 4. The barcode 7 represents information specific to the photo film cassette 2. Thephoto film cassette 2 is basically the same as that disclosed in thecommonly assigned patent application U.S. Ser. No. 08/596,660.

In FIG. 2, the photo film 4 has imaging frames 14 and perforations 8.Each one of the imaging frames 14 is associated with two of theperforations 8, namely a first perforation 8a and a second perforation8b. The perforations 8a and 8b are spaced at a small interval. Thesecond perforation 8b is located away from the first perforation 8a inthe direction toward the cassette shell 3, and is formed at a respectivefirst shorter side of the imaging frames 14. On a side opposite to thesecond perforation 8b, aspect ratio information 9 is recorded in arecording region 4a associated with each of the imaging frames 14. Tworectangular dots are recordable to the recording region 4aphotographically in a form of latent image. The aspect ratio information9 is two-bit data designating a printing mode.

The aspect ratio information 9 consists of a combination of a first dot9a and a second dot 9b, each of which is a digit of 2-bit data. Prior toincluding the photo film cassette 2 into a lens-fitted photo film unit,the dots 9a and 9b are recorded to the recording region 4a of the photofilm 4 for all of the imaging frames 14.

The dots 9a and 9b are recorded as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A. Thephoto film 4 is conveyed by a conveyor 16 at a regular speed, while thesecond perforation 8b is detected by a sensor 11, for example a photosensor. A laser light source 12 is controlled by a control unit 18, toapply a slit beam 12a for a predetermined duration so as to record thedots 9a and 9b in the recording region 4a.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dots 9a and 9b of the aspect ratioinformation 9 are preexposed on the recording region 4a for the photofilm 4 on the side opposite to the second perforation 8b. A light-tightdark room is used to record the aspect ratio information 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates the lens-fitted photo film unit, which ispredetermined to contain the photo film cassette 2 with the dots 9a and9b on the photo film 4. The lens-fitted photo film unit consists of aphoto film housing 25 and a cardboard wrapper (not shown) for wrappingthe photo film housing 25. The photo film housing 25 includes a photofilm containing section 21, an exposure section 22, a front cover 23 anda rear cover 24. The photo film containing section 21 contains the photofilm cassette 2.

In the top of the front cover 23, a frame counter disk 27 is partiallyexposed outside. A release button 28 is formed integrally with the topof the front cover 23. In the front of the front cover 23, a taking lens32 and a viewfinder 33 appear. The viewfinder 33 has a fixed view fieldhaving a width-to-length aspect ratio of 1.43, which corresponds to anL-size printing mode.

The photo film containing section 21 has a cassette containing chamber36 and a photo film roll chamber 37. An exposure aperture 35 and theexposure section 22 are disposed between the cassette containing chamber36 and the roll chamber 37. The cassette containing chamber 36 containsthe cassette shell 3 of the photo film cassette 2. The roll chamber 37contains a roll of the photo film 4 having the dots 9a and 9b previouslyrecorded.

A winding wheel 38 is mounted on the top of the cassette containingchamber 36, and is meshed with the spool 5 in the cassette shell 3 forwinding the photo film 4 into the cassette shell 3. The rear cover 24covers the rear of the photo film containing section 21 wholly inlight-tight fashion. A bottom of the rear cover 24 has a bottom lid 24afor closing the cassette containing chamber 36 and a bottom lid 24b forclosing the roll chamber 37.

Operation of the above lens-fitted photo film unit is described now.Before the manufacture, the dots 9a and 9b are recorded into therecording region 4a on the photo film 4. The photo film 4 will be laterincluded in the photo film cassette 2 to be contained in the photo filmhousing 25.

In FIGS. 3 and 3A, the photo film 4 is conveyed by the conveyor 16 inthe dark room continuously at the constant speed. An edge of the secondperforation 8b along the first shorter side of the photo film 4 isdetected by the sensor 11. Upon the detection of the second perforation8b, the laser light source 12 is driven for a predetermined duration toapply the slit beam 12a on the side of the photo film 4 opposite to theperforations 8. In FIG. 2, the first dot 9a as one first bit in theaspect ratio information 9 is recorded on the side opposite to thesecond perforation 8b.

After recording the first dot 9a, predetermined time lapses. Then thelaser light source 12 is driven for a predetermined duration to applythe slit beam 12a to the photo film 4. The second dot 9b as one secondbit in the aspect ratio information 9 is recorded on the side oppositeto the second perforation 8b. Then the aspect ratio information 9 isentirely recorded or imprinted to the photo film 4. Repeated operationcauses the photo film 4 to have the aspect ratio information 9associated with all of the imaging frames 14, so that the photo film 4has the signs for instructing use of the L-size in the printingoperation for any of the imaging frames 14.

The slit beam 12a is applied to the photo film 4 for the regulardurations while the photo film 4 is conveyed at the regular speed, forthe purpose of recording the dots 9a and 9b. This is very effective inheightening productivity of the photo film 4 for the photo film cassette2 in view of the cost, as compared with a technique in which the slitbeam 12a would be applied through a rectangular mask opening while thephoto film 4 is stopped for each of the imaging frames 14.

A trailer of the photo film 4 having the dots 9a and 9b is retained tothe spool 5 in the cassette shell 3. The photo film 4 is wound into thecassette shell 3 by rotation of the spool 5. The photo film containingsection 21 having been provided with the exposure section 22 and thefront cover 23, the cassette shell 3 is inserted into the cassettecontaining chamber 36 of the photo film containing section 21, at thesame time as the photo film 4 is inserted into the roll chamber 37.

When the photo film cassette 2 with the dots 9a and 9b recorded iscontained in the photo film containing section 21, the rear cover 24 isfitted on the rear of the photo film containing section 21. The bottomsof the cassette containing chamber 36 and the roll chamber 37 arerespectively covered by the bottom lids 24a and 24b in light-tightfashion. The cardboard wrapper (not shown) is fitted about the photofilm housing 25, finally to obtain the lens-fitted photo film unit.

To use the above-constructed lens-fitted photo film unit, the windingwheel 38 is rotated first. The photo film 4 is wound until a first oneof the imaging frames 14 of the photo film 4 is set on the exposureaperture 35. A shutter device is charged responsively.

The user observes a photographic subject through the viewfinder 33, andchecks that the subject is situated inside the view field of theviewfinder 33 for the L-size. Then the user depresses the release button28 calmly in consideration of preventing shakes of the camera. Then theshutter device is actuated to take an exposure in one of the imagingframes 14 and record the subject image on it.

On the photo film 4, the dots 9a and 9b are previously recorded.Therefore no mechanism for data imprinting is needed in the lens-fittedphoto film unit for the purpose of recording the dots 9a and 9b in thecourse of taking exposures.

Accordingly the lens-fitted photo film unit can be produced at a lowcost. It is possible to avoid lowering reliability in adding a dataimprinting mechanism.

The lens-fitted photo film unit, after all the imaging frames 14 areexposed, is forwarded to a photo laboratory, where photographic printsare produced from the imaging frames 14 all at the L-size. Some of theimaging frames 14 may be printed at a panoramic size or a wide-visionsize (HDTV size) if the user requests it. For this, selected ones of theimaging frames 14 for the special size may be designated and recorded inan order form of the photo laboratory, where an operator manuallydesignates the selected ones of the imaging frames 14 in the printingoperation.

In the above embodiment, the dots 9a and 9b are recorded to the photofilm 4 before the photo film 4 is retained to and included in the photofilm cassette 2. The present invention is applicable to a method inwhich the photo film cassette 2 having the photo film 4 is prepared, andthe photo film 4 is pulled and unwound out of the photo film cassette 2,and is provided with the dots 9a and 9b by recording operation, and thenthe photo film cassette 2 with the photo film 4 is inserted into ahousing of the lens-fitted photo film unit.

In the above embodiment, the plural sets of the dots 9a and 9b arerecorded in the order from the leader to the trailer of the photo film4. The present invention is also applicable to producing method andapparatus in which the plural sets of the dots 9a and 9b are recorded inan order from the trailer to the leader of the photo film 4.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to thosehaving skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changesand modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for producing a lens-fitted photofilm unit having a body, a viewfinder disposed in said body, and a photofilm pre-loaded in said body, wherein imaging frames are created on saidphoto film by a shutter releasing, said producing apparatus comprising:aconveyor for conveying said photo film to be contained in saidlens-fitted photo film unit; a light source disposed in a directiontoward an outside of said imaging frames; and a control unit forcontrolling said conveyor and said light source in synchronism, saidcontrol unit driving a light source while said photo film is conveyed,for optically recording aspect ratio information on said photo film insaid outside of each of said imaging frames and in association withrespective ones of each of said imaging frames, said aspect ratioinformation including at least two indicia, and representing an aspectratio in at least two bits, said imaging frames being printed inaccordance with said aspect ratio.
 2. A producing apparatus as definedin claim 1, wherein said indicia are respectively dots.
 3. A producingapparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said photo film includes atrain of perforations formed on a side opposite to said aspect ratioinformation and outside said imaging frames, at least one of saidperforations being associated with a respective one of said imagingframes;further comprising a sensor, disposed in a direction toward saidperforations in said photo film conveyed on said conveyor, for detectinga respective one of said perforations; said control unit driving saidlight source in response to a signal from said sensor while said photofilm is conveyed continuously.
 4. A producing apparatus as defined inclaim 3, wherein said indicia are respectively rectangular.
 5. Aproducing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein two adjacent ones ofsaid perforations are associated with a respective one of said imagingframes, and are cyclically arranged at a pitch of said imagingframes;said control unit effects a sequence for driving said lightsource each time two of said perforations are detected, said lightsource being driven two times during said sequence.
 6. A producingapparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said aspect ratio is 1.4-1.5.